Beam and clamp building construction



J ly 3 1968 R. M. ENGELBRECHT 3,394,526 I BEAM AND CLAMP BUILDINGCONSTRUCTION Filed July 22, 1964 INVENT 05527 M. 5416a cxrr BY km, v Q

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,394,526 BEAM AND CLAMP BUlLDINGCONSTRUCTKON Robert M. Engelbrecht, R0. Box 184, Rocky Hill, NJ. 08553Filed July 22, 1964, Ser. No. 384,338 8 Claims. (Cl. 52732) Thisinvention relates to improvements in building construction and, moreparticularly, to an improved building construction based on a beam andclamp system.

Today there are many forms of panelized building construction offering anumber of advantages particularly in lowering erection time and costs.Most panelized wall construction today employs a clamping system wherebyaluminum clamps, for example, serve to hold or clamp the panel in place.

Further panelized wall constructions may also embody the folded plateprinciple or be of the geodesic dome variety. The latter operates on anarch principle whereas the former ordinarily required an independentsupport.

A principal object of this invention is to improve on these prior artpanelized building construction techniques by employing a systemutilizing clamps that not only hold panels together but support theseparts as well; and with the panels also contributing to the support ofthe building while, at the same time, providing for the building skinand enclosure.

Another object is to provide a building system of this nature capable ofbeing erected literally by the use of only a single tool notably a screwdriver.

A further object is to provide a building system of this type whereinthe entire building can be plant fabricated and subsequently, readilyassembled and disassembled for future relocation and assembly witherection being possible in any weather because, with the employment ofthe materials contemplated, the elements will have no effect on thestructural components.

Still further objects include:

A building system employing components of minimum weight thereby holdingshipping costs at a low figure;

Extruded clamping beams and posts;

A building system in which both walls and roof act as a single unitenabling extruded aluminum connectors in the valleys and ridges of thewall to support part of the roof load;

The utilization of panelized wall and roof sections that are not tooheavy for two average men to lift and install by hand;

And other objects and advantages as well.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdetailed description which is to be taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings illustrating a single somewhat preferredembodiment of the invention and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a part of a buildingconstruction incorporating a sawtooth configuration in accordance withthe teachings of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 22of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a corner detail and baseanchoring detail applicable to the building construction of thisinvention.

In the drawings, a building is shown erected employing the beam andclamp system of this invention. This system also contemplates theutilization of roof panels 12 and wall panels 14 for not only completingthe 3,394,526 Patented July 30, 1968 outer skin and surfacing of thebuilding but support pur= poses as well. With respect to the roof, avalley connector 16 effectively connects and clamps adjacent panels. Aridge connector 18 similarly connects adjacent panels of the roof. Thewall panels, on the other hand are connected by means of similar valleyclamps 20 and ridge clamps 22. In view of the lightweight nature of theconstruction contemplated by this invention, it is suggested that thebuilding be suitably anchored to an appropriate foundatron. Inasmuch asthis securement is well within the purview of one skilled in the art,further discussion in this area is deemed unnecessary.

Turning now to the roof valley connector clamp 16, it should beinitially appreciated that a three-piece clamp construction is employedwith each part preferably fabriextrusion technique as is the case withthe other clamps and connectors disclosed herein.

Thus, the valley clamp tour. The length of the valley cap 24 is dictatedby that of the clamp 16 which, in turn, is determined by the design. Theclamp 16 also includes a pair of lower identical and mating pieces 32and 34.

The clamp pieces 32 and 34 cooperate with the valley cap 24 to securetherebetween framing members 36 and 38 which may be selected fromstandard framing lumber; and the pieces cooperate with one another insecuring therebetween a beam 40 which also may be selected from standardlumber framing. In successful applications of this invention, theframing members 36 and 38 were formed from 2 x 4" lumber whereas beam 40was 2 x 8" lumber. In securing the framing members 36 and 38, the pieces32 and 3-4 are, respectively, provided with angularly extending jaws 42and 44. These jaws are disposed at similar angles to the spacedrespective legs 26 and 28; and each includes an upwardly extendingelongated socket 46 and 48. Each socket is provided with alongitudinally extending opening 50 suitably serrated or grooved to matewith the threads of a threaded bolt 52 extending through spaced openings54 in the legs 26 and 28 of the valley cap 24. To facilitate thegripping engagement with the frame members 36 and 38, the interiorassociated surfaces of the jaws 42 and 44 are provided with serrations56 and 58, respectively. Similarly, the valley cap 24 is formed suchthat its divergent legs 26 and 28 are serrated along surfaces 60 and 62as well as the exterior surfaces 64 and 66 employed when the cap 24 isused in the clamp that forms the ridge of the sawtooth roof and walldesign. In this connection, the legs 26 and 28 are also formed withrecesses 68 which are conveniently adapted to receive gaskets forpurposes of hermetically sealing the juncture between the valley orridge cap, as the case may be, and the frame members clamped by means ofthe particular connector.

The connector pieces 32 and 34 are also provided with web portions 70and 72, respectively, adapted to be disposed in abutting relationship asshown. The upper terminal end of these webs define an accommodatingrecess 74 capable of receiving the downwardly extending web 30 of thecap 24. In order to assure the desired relationship between the web 70and 72 and, consequently, the connector pieces 32 and 34, registeringslots 76 are adapted to receive a plate 78 functioning as a key for suchpurposes. The connector pieces 32 and 34 are also provided withdownwardly extending flanges 80 and 82. These flanges, together with thebase of the web 70 and 72, define an opening adapted to receive theupper edge of beam 40. In order to suitably anchor the connector pieces32 and 34 to beam 40, a number of spaced openings 84 are provided in thedownwardly extending flanges 80 and 32 through which a bolt and nutassembly 86 extends.

Referring now to the ridge beam connector 18 of the roof, it should beappreciated that the cap thereof is of identical construction as the cap24 of the valley connector 16 but reversed to have its legs 26 and 28extending downwardly in a divering angular direction. In view of theidentical nature of the cap construction, like numerals will be appliedto designate like parts. In completing the ridge beam clamp 18, anintegral lower beam clamp piece 88 is provided. This connector piece 88is provided with interior serrations 90 and 92 along its longitudinallyextending side edges to facilitate gripping of frame members 36 and 38.In addition, the connector piece 88 is provided with upwardly extendingmembers 98 and 100 each provided with longitudinally extending recess102. defined by slotted or grooved side faces adapted to mate withthreaded bolts 52 in securing the frame members 36 and 38 in place bymeans of the connector 18. Gaskets disposed within the slots 68 of theridge cap serve to hermetically seal the junction between the connectorand extending frame members.

Referring now to the construction of the walls of the buildingconstruction contemplated by this invention, it will be appreciated thatthe walls embrace identical construction as the roof and are essentiallya roof turned on end. Thus, it will be observed that the connector 20assoicated with vertically extending post 40 is identical with theconnector 16. The connector 22 is identical with the connector 18. Forthis reason, like structural parts will be designated with like numeralsfor these connectors. The frame members will be similarly designated butwith accompanying primes.

As will be observed from the drawings, the roof frame members 36 and 38cooperate in supporting the roof panels 12 of suitable material as, forexample, suitably treated plywood capable of withstanding thecontemplated weather and elements. The lumber frames 36 and 38' serve tosupport the vertical side panels 14 again selected from suitablemate-rial.

Although conventional techniques may be employed for the construction ofthe corner joining the roof and side walls as well as the means foranchoring the building base to the selected support, it is recommendedthat the details of FIG. 4 be utilized at these locations. In view ofthe foregoing detailed description, the extruded corner clamp 104 andextruded anchor connector 106 and their respective structural detailsshould be evident to those I skilled in the art.

Thus, it should be appreciated that all of the parts constituting thebuilding construction contemplated by this invention are capable ofbeing prefabricated. Contemporary building materials can readily beemployed and adapted for this construction. The building is,accordingly, capable of being lightweight and adapted to be fabricatedin one location and then shipped for erection at another location. Thestructural system embodied by this invention is adapted to employextrusions for the clamping members and these may assume the form ofstructural aluminum extrusions acting as continuous clamps and weatherseals. This clamping system operates to hold together large andrelatively thick stress skin roofing and wall panels. In thisconnection, the wall panels may be translucent plastic sheets suitablybonded to a decorative aluminum frame. Of course, these plastic wallsheets may, for decorative purposes, be crystal white translucentmaterial. Opaque plywood panels may form the undulating sawtooth roofand ceiling profile. Naturally, other sheet material can be employed forboth the roof and walls. The gaskets or weather strips can be fabricatedof a suitable vinyl material.

The particular building encompassed by the construction of thisinvention is basically rectangular; and it allows a great expanse ofopen interior space. The sawtooth perimeter contributes to a hexagonalmodulation of the building plan.

Both the walls and roof panels act as a single unit through theinterconnecting clamping system. There are no vibrations susceptiblemechanical linkage in the construction thereby contributing to theoverall desirability of the building ultimately erected. With priorselection of building materials for the clamping system and panels,weather or the elements present no problems inasmuch as construction canbe carried out even in the rain or with the presence of high moistureconditions. The part can be bolted and threaded to one another in anytype of weather. Above all, the pleasing appearance and configuration,together with the versatility and flexibility of aesthetic properties,render the building construction an extremely saleable commodity. Withrespect to the clamping system, there is basically only three aluminumextrusions required for both the roof construction as well as that ofthe walls.

Thus, among others, the aforenoted objects and advantages have been mosteffectively attained. Although a single somewhat preferred embodiment ofthe invention has been disclosed herein, it should be understood thatthis invention is in no sense limited thereby and its scope is to bedetermined by that of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A clamping system for building construction comprising a cap having apair of arms extending in opposed directions, a pair of associated andoppositely extending clamping pieces spaced from said cap and coupledtherewith to secure therebetween at least one structural member, saidclamping pieces being discretely formed and adapted to be coupled withone another as well as with the cap, said clamping pieces includingabutting web portions, and said web portions defining an accommodatingrecess adapted to receive a portion of said cap to facilitate theorientation of said cap with respect to said pieces.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the junction betweenthe arms of the cap is provided with a laterally extending web with theangle between the web and each of the arms being greater than 90.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of the arms isserrated to increase the gripping engagement of the arm with theassociated structural memher.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of the arms isprovided with a groove for receiving Weather stripping to seal thejunction between the arm and the structural member.

5. A clamping system for building construction comprising a cap having apair of arms extending in opposed directions, a pair of associated andoppositely extending clamping pieces spaced from said cap and coupledtherewith to secure therebetween at least one structural member, saidclamping pieces being discretely formed and adapted to be coupled withone another as well as with the cap, each of said clamping piecesincluding a laterally extending portion defining a recess defined bygrooved surfaces adapted to mate with the threads of bolts, and boltsextending through said cap into said recess for threadedly coupling saidcap to said clamping pieces.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 5 wherein alignment meansassociated with both of said clamping pieces serves to maintain thepieces in substantial alignment, said alignment means including slotsformed in each one of said clamping pieces and a plate disposed in theslots.

7. The invention in accordance with claim 5 wherein each of saidclamping pieces includes a serrated surface for facilitating thesecurement of the structural memher.

8. The invention in accordance with claim 5 wherein each of saidclamping pieces includes a laterally extending flange spaced from oneanother in substantially parallel relationship, said flanges adapted tobe clamped to a structural member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 3,127,639 4/ 1964 Hammitt et a152-464X 3,152,366 10/1964 McCrory et a1. 52-282 X 3,039,232 6/1962 Dunn52-309 X FOREIGN PATENTS 394,252 1908 France.

HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Primary Examiner. ALFRED C. PERHAM, AssistantExaminer.

5. A CLAMPING SYSTEM FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A CAP HAVING APAIR OF ARMS EXTENDING IN OPPOSED DIRECTIONS, A PAIR OF ASSOCIATED ANDOPPOSITELY EXTENDING CLAMPING PIECES SPACED FROM SAID CAP AND COUPLINGTHEREWITH TO SECURE THEREBETWEEN AT LEAST ONE STRUCTURAL MEMBER, SAIDCLAMPING PIECES BEING DISCRETELY FORMED AND ADAPTED TO BE COUPLED WITHONE ANOTHER AS WELL AS WITH THE CAP, EACH OF SAID CLAMPING PIECESINCLUDING A LATERALLY EXTENDING PORTION DEFINING A RECESS DEFINED BYGROOVED SURFACES ADAPTED TO MATE WITH THE THREADS OF BOLTS, AND BOLTSEXTENDING THROUGH SAID CAP INTO SAID RECESS FOR THREADEDLY COUPLING SAIDCAP TO SAID CLAMPING PIECES.